US HDTV threatens Canadians!

Just blame it on those awful Americans!

Canadian Television Today, a book by two university professors, has laid out the argument that the Americans are threatening the very cultural identity of Canada.

And it all comes back to TV.

Canada has had a lukewarm reception to the HDTV technology while Americans seem to be coming aboard in droves. As a result, most of the HD programming that is available is American. This is what bothers the authors.

Even if there were smaller Canadian programs available, the professors feel these will be pushed aside for the offerings from across the border. This would limit the amount of traditional programming.

Unlike the US government, which is pushing for the end of analogue transmissions by the year 2009, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) hasn’t been quick to push HDTV. The authors condemn their actions and feel that the CRTC needs to do more to catch up with the Americans.

The CRTC is set to begin hearings in Quebec and will be looking at the most effective way to deliver HDTV technology to Canadians.

HDTV does offer a better picture, but the monitors and sets are still very pricey. Consumers are still wondering if the picture is worth the price – especially given the limited availability of programs and the limited number of HD channels that are currently offered.